Electrical protective device for distribution lines



G. F. LINCKS Oct. 23, 1951 LECTRICAL PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR DISTRIBUTION LINES Filed Sept. 1, 3.949

lrwverwbor George F Lincks, by

H18 Attorn ey Patented Oct. 23, 1951 2,572,637

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR DISTRIBUTION LINES 1 George F. Lincks, Pittsfleld, Mass., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application September 1, 1949, Serial No. 113,650

3 Claims. (01. 175-294) 1 2 My invention relates to overcurrent protective current responsive element, such as a solenoid, devices of the fuseless cutout type and has as is arranged to lock the switch in the open poits principal object to provide a device which is sition, allowing the normal overcurrent circuit particularly suitable for use in the clearing of breaking device to open the circuit. The therrelatively low-current faults in electrical dis- 5 mostatic element is arranged to be short-cirtribution systems when such faults are of insuflicuited by action of the second responsive element cient magnitude to cause normal overcurrent in response to relatively high fault currents to protective devices to operate. prevent damage to the first responsive element In electrical distribution systems, particularly by the flow of high currents therethrough. those located in rural areas, many faults of the The device incorporating my invention is deline-to-neutral type occur, the most prevalent signed for application to a distribution system of such faults being that of having a line break having normal protective devices such as fuse and fall to the ground. Generally in such cases cutouts, reclosers and oil circuit breakers inthe fault current is too low to cause a fuse or stalled at strategic points in the system such other overcurrent protective device to open the as at the substation, sectionalizing points on the circuit and yet the presence of a line at high main line and at branches along the line. In potential on the ground is a hazard to persons the usual installation, these devices are so coand domestic animals. It is desirable, therefore, ordinated that the protective device closest to t p v de a device w i h aus s t supp y c ra fault on its source side responds to clear a fault cuit to be interrupted in such casesneven though from the circuit without causing any other prothere is insufficient current in the fault itself tective device in the circuit to operate.

to make the normal overcurrent line protec The device about to be described is connected device function to disconnect the circuit and t ch a circuit to provide additional protecremove the hazardtion against faults caused by lines of the dist is a Object of y invention to provide a tribution circuit falling to the ground and causprotective device for use in a distribution system ing such low fault currents as will not of themcolmected D pp y, to disconnect t selves operate the normal over-current protecdistribution system from the power supply under tiv device enumerated above.

faults of a current value less than that required The device incorporating my invention is deto cause the normal overcurrent circuit breaksigned to provide protection against these low ing device to function. current faults by responding thereto to short- It is anoth r object f my inv nt on t pr circuit the lines of the distribution circuit to vide a device which functions in response to relaause a short circuit on the primary line, indit ve y low-Current falllid t which n gerielal rectly causing the usual over-current devices to is prevented from functioning at the relatively clear such a, fault from the circuit. When overhigh fault currents which cause other overcurload currents of values high enough to actuate e t c cu t b ea n d v o u c the usual over-current protective devices occur According to one embodiment, my invention on the line, however, an open circuit between provides an apparatus w ch s arranged to shortthe distribution lines is maintained in this device circuit the lines of a distribution system supto allow the usual over-current devices to clear plied from a phase wire and the neutral wire the fault.

of a transmission system through an overcurrent My invention will be better understood from circuit breaking device by means of a switch a consideration of the following description taken mechanism connected between the lines. Under in connection with the accompanying drawing normal conditions the switch is in an open poand the appended claims, in which the features sition. In response to fault current in the disof my invention believed to be novel are set tribution system, between a pair of predetermined forth. values, a first current responsive element, such In the drawing Fig. 1 is an elevational view as a thermostatic element, is arranged to cause of a protective device embodying certain feathe switch to close. When the switch mechatures of my invention, and Fig. 2 is a schematic nism is thus closed, the lines are short-circuited diagram showing the electrical relationship of causing the normal overcurrent circuit breakcertain of the elements of Fig. 1.

ing device to trip, disconnecting the circuits. Referring now to Fig. 1, there is shown a pro- Under relatively high fault currents, in excess tective device I and a normal overcurrent cirof the predetermined values, however, a second cuit breaking device 2. Device is provided with amass? means for short circuitmg lines 3 and l ofa distribution line and is connected between line 6 and line 3 of a distribution line. Device 2 is connected between line 3 and phase C of source 5,wh1ch is represented as a conventional threephase four-wire distribution system having phase wires A, B and C and a neutral wire N. Line 3 and 6 represent a single-phase line connected throughdevices l and 2 to phase C and neutral N, respectively,- of source 5.

Circuit breaking device 2 is represented as a fuse and because of the relatively high load currents and coordination with other protective devices located on the load side which must operate faster, device 2 is arranged to interrupt line 3 omy at relatively high values of current in line 3 resulting from relatively low impedance faults".

Attention is next directed to the structure of fuseless cutout l which comprises principally a switch mechanism 6 having a contact 1 and a movable arm 3, a latch 9, a thermostatic element wand an electromagneticelement ll. The elements mentioned are assembled on a pair of insulating members 52 and i3. Insulating member 12, which is of a type suitable for the voltage of system 5, may be of conventional design and is preferably made from a ceramic material, such as gage latch 3 is provided for arm 8 in the form of a strap welded or otherwise secured to arm 8 in the vicinity of loop 24.. Latch 9 is supported by a generally U-shaped bracket 26 secured in fixed relation to insulator 13. For convenience bracket 25 may be made integral with bracket 21 which supports solenoid ll, as will be presently described. Latch 9 is supported in bracket 26 by a pin 28 extending therethrough, and latch 9 is biased in a clockwise direction by'a spring 29 arranged to engage latch 9 and bracket 26. Thus switch arm 8 is maintained in a latched position by engagement of catch 25 with latch 9.

One end of thermostatic element 10 is provided with a looped end which is fastened by a screw 30 and nut 30 to a lug 23' which is electrically common with end portion 23 of arm 8. The other end of thermostatic element 10 is attached to latch 9 but is electrically insulated therefrom by a grommet 3l, preferably formed of a ceramic material,

. V interposed between latch 9 and element 10.

Thermostatic element 10 may conveniently be of the type described in Parsons U. S. Patent 2,121,259, dated June 25, 1948. Element 10 as porcelain. 'lhe lower end of insulator i2 is provided with a threaded lug Id fastened therein as by cementing, and constituting a terminal of de- Vice 1. Switch contact 1 is secured to lug i l and insulator 12 by suitable nuts 15. Lug I4 is electrically connected to wire 3.

A support for cutout device 1 is provided in the form of a strap 16 which may be formed of metal and is arranged to be clampedat the approximate center of insulator 12 by a bolt and nut 18. The upper end of insulator i2 is provided with a threaded lug i9 fastened therein as by cementi'ng,.and constituting a second terminal of device I. Insulator l3 and a supporting bar 211 for movable switch arm 8 are secured in fixed relation to lug l9 and insulator 12 by a suitable nut 21.

- It will be understood that in assembling contact 1 and arm 8 of switch 6 and insulators l2; and 13, correct alignment must be maintained therebetween for proper operation and it may be desirable to employ devices in addition to-lugs I4 and i9 and nuts and 2| which are shown.

Switch contact 1 is formed of a doubled metallic rod or wire formed near one extremity thereof for encircling and mounting on lug M as previously described. Straps 1' are formed around and suitably fastened to contact 1 so as to hold the two wires in proper relationship. The other extremity of contact 1 has the wire flared out to form a fork or generally Y-shaped end 22 arranged to receive switch arm 8. Switch arm 3 is formed-of a metallic rod or wire having a high degree of flexibility. One extremity 23 of arm 3 is secured by welding or otherwise to supporting bar which in turn is secured to lug l9 as previously described. Spring action for moving arm 8 into engagement with contact 1 is provided by a spring loop or loops 24 formed in arm 8. The other extremity of arm 8 is extended beyond loop 24 to the required length for reliable engagement with the forked portion 22 of contact 1. The engaged position of arm 8 with contact 1 is indicated in Fig. 1 by the broken-line view of the arm designated by numeral 8'.

A holding catch 25 which is arranged to enother aligning and fastening herein embodied consists of a bimetallic material wound along a minor helix in the manner of a spring and the resulting spring-like material is then wound along a major helix, the latter being shown in Fig. 1. The bimetallic member made in this manner expands and contracts in the direction of the axis of the major helix when the temperature of the member is changed, as by passing current through the bimetallic material. Depending on the inside-outside relationship of the bimetallic materials in the minor helix, the major helix may be made either to expand or contract along its axis. In the construction shown in Fig. 1

thermostatic element 1,9 is arranged to contract in Latch 9 is formed of a conducting material,"

preferably metal. By the use of insulating grommet 31 between latch 9 and thermostatic element Ill a'shunting effect which would otherwise be provided across thermostatic element Ill by latch 9, catch 25 and end portion 23 of arm 8 is avoided. A flexible conductor 32 is provided to conduct current from bracket 21, which is preferably metal, to thermostatic element l0.

Electromagnetic element H may conveniently be of solenoid construction and, as herein embodied, comprises bracket 21, a Winding 33, a plunger 34 and a spring 35. Bracket 21, which is formed of a magnetic material, serves as a ma netic path for solenoid H and as the support therefor. Coil 33 and plunger 34 are concentrically mounted with respect to each other in suitable holes 21' in bracket 21. Plunger 34 is made electrically common with brackets 26 and 21 and the end of thermostatic element 10, which is connected to bracket 21 by the use of a flexible connector 31 between plunger 34 and bracket 21. Plunger 34, which is arranged to have a definite travel in solenoid 33, is biased to one end of its travel by spring 35, while magnetic forces due to current flowing in winding 33 tend to oppose biasing spring Stand force plunger 34 to the opposite end of its travel.

amass? The construction of solenoid II is preferably such that plunger 34 normally occupies only a position at one end or the other of its travel and thus may be considered as being a snap-action" device. In other words, a predetermined value of current in winding 33 is required to force plunger 34 from its spring-biased position to its magnetically biased position and plunger 34 does not, except transiently, occupy intermediate positions. The relationship of solenoid II to latch 9 is such that when plunger 34 is in its magnetically biased position latch 9 is prevented from moving due to interference with plunger 34. Accordingly under this condition latch 8 is locked in position and electrical contact is made between latch! and plunger 34.

Electromagnetic element II operates more quickly than the protective devices mentioned above in the description of circuit breaking device 2. The solenoid provided, therefore, must have an operation time constant so much lower than that of circuit breaking device 2 that when fault currents of the relatively high range occur, plunger 34 is forced to its magnetically biased position before device 2 has time to operate.

Current from supply is brought into device I through a lug 36 secured to insulator I3 by a suitable nut 38 and constituting a third terminal of device I. One end of coil 33 is connected to lug 36. and the other end of coil 33 is connected to one of a pair of screws 38 which may also be employed to secure bracket 21 to insulator I3. The path of current through device I is from lug 36 through coil 33, bracket 26, lead 32, thermostatic element III and finally through portion 23 of arm 8 and lug I8 to line 4.

The electrical relationship of the elements described is shown schematically in Fig. 2 in which device I is represented within a closed broken line. There is an electrical path from line N and terminal lug 36 through the series combination of winding 33 and thermostatic element I8 to terminal I9 to line 4. There is an electrical path from line C through fuse 2 to terminal I4 and line 3. Arm 8 of switch is connected to terminal I9 and contact I is connected.

to terminal I4 or, in other words, switch 6 is connected between lines 3 and 4.

In considering the operation of fuseless cutout I, if it is assumed that line 3 comes in contact with the ground, a fault current, larger in magnitude than the normal load currents in neutral line 4, yet smaller in magnitude than the current which is sufficient to melt fuse 2, tends to flow through fuse 2, lines 3 and 4 and the fault condition therein, thermostatic element I8 and winding 33 of solenoid II. The flow of abnormal current through thermostatic element I0 causes heating and contraction thereof with subsequent releasing of catch 25 by latch 9 and the biasing of arm 8 to engagement with contact 1. In other words, switch 6 is closed by the release of arm 8 and a low impedance short circuit condition is created between lines N and C. Accordingly a relatively high short circuit current flows through fuse 2 causing it to blow, thereby interrupting the connection between lines C and 3 and clearing the fault condition.

To re-establish a normal connection between line 3 and line C following the clearing of the fault condition in the manner described and removal of the cause of the fault, switch 6 is first opened by returning arm 8 to its latched position to remove the short circuit between lines 3 and 4.

Following the opening of switch 6, fuse 2 is replaced. While no specific device is shown to aid in latching arm 8 it will be understood that this operation may be performed by an operator with a suitable lineman's stick or other device, or it may be performed by a remotely operated mechanism, such as a solenoid device.

If it is now assumed that a severe fault condition exists from phase to neutral, as might occur, for example, due to a mechanical break of line 3 allowing line 3 to fall directly on line 4, then a relatively high fault current tends to flow through line N, winding 33 and thermostatic element I0, and through fuse 2 and line C. It is assumed that the fault current under this condition is in excess of the current required to blow fuse 2. Such a current is also sumcient to cause plunger 34 of solenoid II to be moved from its spring-biased position to its magnetically biased position. Under this condition latch 9 is locked and arm 8 is held in its latched position preventing switch 6 from closing and short-circuiting lines 3 and 4 at device I. Thus it will be seen that under the condition of a severe fault fuse 2 is blown by the fault current itself, thereby clearing the fault as in the previous example.

While normall the period of time between the creation of a fault condition and the blowing of fuse 2 is relatively short the high fault current flowing through thermostatic element Il may cause damage thereto. Such damage may be prevented by shunting a portion of the fault current around thermostatic element II). This is accomplished by electrical contact between latch 9 and plunger magnetically biased position. A shunt path is thus provided from screw 38 through lead 31, plunger 34, latch 9, catch 25 and end portion 23 of arm 8. While plunger 34 is maintained in its magnetically biased position a relatively large portion of the fault current which would otherwise fiow entirely through thermostatic element III may be made to flow through the shunt path comprising the elements mentioned.

It may be found in practice that the establishment of a short circuit in a distribution system by a protective device in response to relatively low fault currents, as herein described, imposes severe duty on an associated protective circuit breaking device. In such a case it may be desirable to limit the short circuit current by providing a resistance element in series with the short-circuited lines. It will be obvious that such a resistance element may easily be included in the protective device herein embodied. For example, in the structure shown in Fig. l a resistance element may be inserted in series with lug I4 and contact I or between lug I9 and switch arm 8. Such a resistance element is indicated schematically between terminal I4 and contact I in Fig. 2 and is designated by numeral 40.

By the use of my invention it will be seen that an electrical protective apparatus is provided which may be employed in a distribution system to clear automatically fault conditions resulting in relatively low fault currents which generally are incapable of causing normal circuit breaking devices to operate. Furthermore, the apparatus permits the normal operation of such circuit breaking devices in response to severe faults and at the same time the apparatus is protected from damaging effects due to severe fault currents by an automatic shunting action across the sensitive element thereof.

While I have shown and described my inven- 34 when the latter is in its tion as applied to a particular system 'of connections and as embodying various devices diagrammatically shown, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from my invention, and I therefore aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure .by Letters Patent of the United States is:

LA protective device for a transmissionsystem including a distribution line supplied from a phase wire and a neutral wire of a transmission line' comprising a disconnect device connected between said phase wire and one wire offlsaid distribution line and responsive to current therein in excess of a first predetermined value to disconnect said two lines, a switch connected between said one wire and the other wire of said distribution line having a fixed contact connected to said one wire and a contact arm connected to said other wire and movable from a latched position into engagement with said fixed contact, said arm being biased towards engagement with said fixed contact, a latch mechanism for retaining said contact arm in open position including a thermostatic release device electrically connected to said contact arm, an electromagnetic device for locking said latch mechanism in said latched position including a coil connected between the thermostat of said release device and said neutral wire, said release device being responsive 'to currents therethrough above a second predetermined value to allow said arm to engage said fixed contact, said second predetermined value being lower than said first predetermined value and said electromagnetic device being operative more quickly than said disconnect device in response to currents flowing therethrough in excess of said first predetermined value to retain said arm in said latched position. I

'2. A protective device for a distribution line supplied by a phase wire and the neutral wire of a transmission line comprising a disconnect device connected betweensaid phase wire and one wire of said distribution line and responsive to current therein above a first predetermined value to disconnect said lines, a switch connected between said one wire and the other wire of said distribution line having a fixed contact connected to said one wire and a switch arm connected to the other wire of said distribution line and movable from a latched position into engagement with said fixed contact, means for bias ing said arm towards engagement with said fixed contact, a latch mechanism for holding said arm in said latched position including a pivoted latch element and a thermostatic element secured between said latch element and said switch arm and electrically connected to said arm, said thermostatic element being responsive to current above a second predetermined value fiowing therethrough to release said switch arm, said second predetermined value being lower than said first predetermined value, an electromagnetic element having acoil connected between said neutral wire and said thermostatic element and a plunger biased from said latch, said electromagnetic element being operative more quick ly than said disconnect device in response to currents therein in excess or said first predetermined value to move said plunger against said latch thereby to lock said am in said latched position, whereby said am responds to engage said fixed contact responsive to currents flowing in said thermostatic element between said second and first predetermined values and is retained in said latched position, responsive to currents in said distribution line above said first predetermined value.

3. A protective device 161' a distribution line supplied by a phase wire and the neutral wire of a transmission line comprising a disconnect device connected between said phase wire and one wire of said distribution line and responsive to current therethrough in excess of a first predetermined value to disconnect said lines, a fixed contact of a switch connected'to said one wire, a contact arm of said switch connected to the other wire of said distribution line and movable from a latched position into engagement with said fixed contact, said contact arm being biased towards engagement with said fixed contact, a latch mechanism including a pivoted latch element for retaining said arm in open position and a thermostatic element secured between said latch element and said switch arm and electricaliy connected to said switch arm, said thermostatic element being responsive to currents in excess of a second predetermined value flowing therethrough to release said arm, said second predetermined value being lower than said first predetermined value, an electromagnetic element having a coil electrically connected between said neutral wire and said thermostatic element and having a plunger biased away from said latch, said electromagnetic element being operative more quickly than said disconnect device in response to currents in excess of said first predetermined value flowing in said coil to move said plunger against said latch thereby to lock said arm in said latched position, said plunger being electrically connected to said coil to provide an alternate electric path through said latch and said arm in said locked position, whereby said arm is unlatched to short circuit said distribution line responsive to currents in said thermostatic element between said first and second predetermined values, and said arm is locked in latched position responsive to currents in said neutral wire above said first predetermined value.

GEORGE F. REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

